For lunch we headed to Baiona (the English spell it Bayona). This city is
famous for the arrival of the caravel La Pinta, commanded by Martín Alonso Pinzón in 1493. (A caravel is a small 15th century three-masted ship.) La Pinta was the fastest of Columbus’ three ships, and the first to arrive back home. In 1999 a
replica of the
74-foot ship was moored in the
bay. It is now the caravel
Pinta Museum. It costs just €1 to go
aboard and
see the mannequins of
crew and
native Americans, along with reproductions of metals, plants, foods and exotic animals found in the New World. After walking around the port town,
check out the Parador de Baiona (
Paradors are the same as Portuguese Pousadas; there are 85 Paradors in Spain). The 4-star
Baiona Parador is located inside the
Monterreal Castle (rooms start at €120 [$153] a night). The
hotel is built in the
style of a Galician manor house, but within the walls of this medieval fortress. I did not stay
there, but I did have a marvelous
lunch in the main dining room. It included
gazpacho, steak and
salad. Parador de Baiona, Castelo de Monterreal, 36300 Baiona (Pontevedra); tel. 34-986-355- 000. FYI: If you are looking for a much more inexpensive hotel, try the 2-star
Hotel Anunciada in the center of town. Rates begin at just €28 ($35) a night.
For lunch we headed to Baiona (the English spell it Bayona). This city is famous for the arrival of the caravel La Pinta, commanded by Martín Alonso Pinzón in 1493. (A caravel is a small 15th century three-masted ship.) La Pinta was the fastest of Columbus’ three ships, and the first to arrive back home. In 1999 a replica of the 74-foot ship was moored in the bay. It is now the caravel Pinta Museum. It costs just €1 to go aboard and see the mannequins of crew and native Americans, along with reproductions of metals, plants, foods and exotic animals found in the New World. After walking around the port town, check out the Parador de Baiona (Paradors are the same as Portuguese Pousadas; there are 85 Paradors in Spain). The 4-star Baiona Parador is located inside the Monterreal Castle (rooms start at €120 [$153] a night). The hotel is built in the style of a Galician manor house, but within the walls of this medieval fortress. I did not stay there, but I did have a marvelous lunch in the main dining room. It included gazpacho, steak and salad. Parador de Baiona, Castelo de Monterreal, 36300 Baiona (Pontevedra); tel. 34-986-355- 000. FYI: If you are looking for a much more inexpensive hotel, try the 2-star Hotel Anunciada in the center of town. Rates begin at just €28 ($35) a night.
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